PARIS -- Eutelsat Communications has commissioned a nanosatellite from manufacturer Tyvak International SRL, a subsidiary of Terran Orbital Corp. Nanosatellites are a class of spacecraft that can range in launch mass from 1 to 10 kilograms. Called, Eutelsat LEO for Objects (ELO), the satellite will be used to assess the performance of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites in providing narrowband connectivity for objects. The satellite operator will be drawing on the technology of Sigfox, which runs a global narrowband network dedicated to the 'Internet-of-Things' (IoT).

Eutelsat believes that low Earth orbit (LEO) is particularly well-suited to narrowband connectivity for objects. It offers a satellite link anywhere in the world, is complementary to terrestrial IoT networks, and does not impact the cost or the energy consumption of the objects. ELO, scheduled for launch in 2019, will backhaul information from objects located in areas that are not served by terrestrial networks and offer redundancy on existing terrestrial network coverage.

Located on a sun-synchronous orbit between 500 and 600 km in altitude, the satellite will collect data from connected objects across the globe equipped with the same omni-directional antennas already used by terrestrial IoT networks. Data will then be transmitted daily to a ground station located on Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean.

Eutelsat is the latest established satellite operator to enter the LEO market. Other companies have invested in startups or their own networks of satellites. Even though the contract is for only one satellite, there could be more orders on the way if the assessment is successful. LEO satellites are typically operated as part of larger networks. Their relatively low altitude means multiple satellites are needed to provide global coverage and their low cost enables large fleets to be purchased for the same cost as a few geosynchronous satellites.

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